Fireproof floor construction.



w. M. THOMAS.

HREPROOF H.008 CONSTRUCTION.

APPLICATION HLED MAY 20. 1912. RENEWED APR-2.1918.

T QFTCE.

WILLIAM M. THOMAS, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

' FIREPROOF FLOOR CONSTRUCTION.

Application filed May 20, 1912, Serial No. 698,642. Renewed April 2,,1918.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM M. THOMAS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and Stateof Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Fireproof Floor Construc tion. of which the following is a specification.

The main object of the present invention is to dispense as far as possible, with the use of false work or molds in the construction of fireproof floors or ceilings.

A further object of the invention is to provide a fireproof floor construction in which the floor and ceiling are formed of members molded to shape before being placed in position in the floor and ceiling, these members forming a flat ceiling with arches above the same, and forming the temporary support for concrete floor beams and forming eventually, a part of the finished structure.

Other objects of the invention hereinafter.

The accompanying drawings illustrate embodiments of the invention, and referring thereto:

Figure 1 is a vertical section of a portion of a floor, showing the same in process of construction, according to one form of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig 1, showing the application of another form of the invention.

Fig. 3 is a will appear perspective of the arch and ceiling slab construction shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 shows another form of the arch and ceiling slab construction.

Figs. 5 and 6 show further modifications of the arch and ceiling slab construction.

Fig. 7 is a vertical section of another form of the invention.

Fig. 8 is a section 011 line w m in Fig. 7.

The floor constructed according to my invention comprises as essential elements pre-formed arch beam members molded separately, pre-formed arch floor members resting on said beam members and molded concrete beams molded into the spaces between adjacent arch floor members.

In the form shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the pre-formed arch beam members are formed of tile or concrete formed with an arched upper portion 1, and a straight lower portion 2 connecting the ends of said arched portion, both the arched and straight por- Specification of Letters Patent.

1 and 3, or of placed between Patented J an. 7, 1919. Serial No. 226,300".

tions being preferably reinforced as indicated at l in F ig. 1 so as to form an arch member of great strength. At each side, the arch portion 1 is provided with a laterally extending shape to form a support for the arch sections of the floor. Said arch sections may be formed in two or more sections for each arch, each arch section 5 being formed, for

example, of hollow tile, as shown in Figs. other suitable material as hereinafter set forth, said sections being provided with upper flat floor surfaces terminating in dovetail shoulders or outwardly and upwardly projecting wall portions 6 and there being other clove-tail shoulders 7 at the outer ends of the sections, said shoulders being provided for interlocking with the main floor beams. The spaces between the straight lower members 2 of the arch beams may be occupied and closed by ceiling slabs or plates 8 which extend across said space and are in contact with the straight portions 2 of the arch beams. In forming the floor according to this form of the invention, temporary supporting posts 10 are placed in suitable positions and the arch beams above described placed thereon at suitable intervals, the ceiling slabs 8 being the arch beams to form a continuous ceiling. The arch floor sections time then placed on the arch beams forming continuous surfaces between which are formed spaces for receiving and forming the main floor beams, cement or concrete being then poured into said spaces so as. to form the main floor beams 12 which are in integral contact with the arch floor sections 5. The arch floor sections 5 being concavely curved at their end portions so as to extend under the end portions of the arch ribs and having their outer end faces inclined toward the arch ribs in a downward direction, it follows that the cement floor beam molded into the space between the arched floor sections is interlocked with said floor sections and said floor sections are interlocked with the arch beams so that when the cement beams 12 have set, they support both the floor sections and the arch beams and the temporary supports 10 may then be removed. The beams 12 molded into position in this manner constitute T-beams, their upper portions expanding over the spandrels of the arch members.

The arch beams instead of being made flange 4 which is of arched hollow as in Fig. 3, may be made solid as shown at in Figs. 2, 4. and 5. Fig. 2 also shows the arch sections formed of solid con crete members 16 in place of hollow tiles. Moreover, as shown in Figs. at and 5, the arch sections may be made in more than two sections, there being a plurality of sections or voussoirs at each side of the center, such sect-ions being shown as tiles 17 in Fig. 4E, and as concrete members 17 in Fig. i. In case said arch beams are formed of concrete, they are preferably fastened to the ceiling slabs by means of pins or spikes 16 set or molded into the arch sections and projecting downwardly therefrom into plugs 20 of Wood or other penetrable material set into recesses or holes 21 in the ceiling slabs. In case tile arch sections are used, they are preferably held in position on the slabs by means of clamps 2% formed of .heetmetal having prongs or projections 25 extending downwardly the ceiling slabs and into holes 26 in extending up in contact with the ends of the arch sections as shoiwn'in Figs. 3 and 5.

The arch beams in place of being made of tile or concrete may be made of metal such as steel, as shown at 28 in Fig. 6, said beams being, for example, formed of angle iron strips 29, bent to form the upper member of the arch, strips connecting the ends of said arch and bracing strips 3-1 connecting the upper and lower members 29 and 30-to form a trussed arch or bowstring truss. The upper members 29 of the arch are provided with lateral flanges 32 onwhich rest the arch sections 33. Figs. 7 and 8 show asimilar construction except thatthe lower strip 34 of the metallic arc-h is provided with lateral projections on which resttile' or molded ceiling sections or slabs 36, and the upper or arch member 37 of the arch beam is provided with bent portions 37 at the end extending over tiles or bricks 39 which form the end members of the arch sections which incline inwardly toward the center of the arch, so as to give Copies of this patent may be obtained for five' ccnts an interlock with the floor beams when they are molded into the spaces between the arch sections. The remainder of the arch sections may be formed of a plurality of bricks or tiles 10 set on top of the arch member 37. The horizontal lower member 41 of the metallic arch beam may extend, shown at 41, into the concrete floor beams, so as to relieve the floor beams of side thrust from. the arch sections. 5 5

IVha t I claim is:

1. In combination, pre-formed arch beam members, having laterally extending flanges, pre-formed arch floor members having their side edges seated onsaid. flanges and having upper fiat floor surfaces, and main floor beams molded between and over the ends of adjacent arch floor members and flush with the flat floor surfaces thereof.

2. In combination, pro-formed arch beam members having laterally extending flanges, pre-formedarch floor members having their side edges seated'on. said flanges and having upper flat floor surfaces terminating in dovetail shoulders, and main floor beams molded between and over the ends of adjacent arch floor members and molded between adjacent dove-tail shoulders.

3. In combination, pre-formed arch beam members having laterally extending flanges, 7 pre-formed arch floor members having their side'edges seated on said flanges and having dove-tail shoulders between the ends of said floor members, and main floor beams molded betweenand'over the ends of adjacent arch floor members and molded between adjacent dove-tail shoulders to form T-shaped beams.

In testimony whereof. I have hereunto set my hand at Los Angeles, California, this lth day of May, 1912.

WILLIAM M. THOMAS.

In presence (if- ARTHUR P.'I;NIGHT, MARTHA M. LANGE.

each, by addressing ti1e"(3ommissioner of I'atents,

Washington, D. 0. 

